Leviticus 5:18
New International Version
They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.

New Living Translation
For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the LORD, and you will be forgiven.

English Standard Version
He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.

Berean Standard Bible
He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.

King James Bible
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

New King James Version
And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him.

New American Standard Bible
He is then to bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your assessment, as a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he committed unintentionally and did not know it, and it will be forgiven him.

NASB 1995
“He is then to bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his error in which he sinned unintentionally and did not know it, and it will be forgiven him.

NASB 1977
“He is then to bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his error in which he sinned unintentionally and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him.

Legacy Standard Bible
He is then to bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his error in which he sinned unintentionally and did not know it, and it will be forgiven him.

Amplified Bible
He is then to bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. In this way the priest shall make atonement for him regarding the error which he committed unintentionally and did not know it, and he shall be forgiven.

Christian Standard Bible
He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a guilt offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a restitution offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.

American Standard Version
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.

English Revised Version
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a guilt offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must bring the priest a ram that has no defects from the flock or its value in money for a guilt offering. The priest will make peace with the LORD for the wrong you did unintentionally (although you didn't know what you did), and you will be forgiven.

Good News Translation
You must bring to the priest as a repayment offering a male sheep or goat without any defects. Its value is to be determined according to the official standard. The priest shall offer the sacrifice for the sin which you committed unintentionally, and you will be forgiven.

International Standard Version
He is to bring from the flock to the priest a ram without defect, estimated as to its value in silver shekels, as a guilt offering. Then the priest is to make atonement for him concerning his inadvertent act that he committed through ignorance, and it will be forgiven him.

Majority Standard Bible
He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.

NET Bible
and must bring a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering to the priest. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his error which he committed (although he himself had not known it) and he will be forgiven.

New Heart English Bible
He shall bring a ram without blemish from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and did not know it, and he will be forgiven.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass-offering to the priest; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and knew it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

World English Bible
He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and didn’t know it, and he will be forgiven.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then he has brought in a ram, a perfect one, out of the flock, at your valuation, for a guilt-offering, to the priest; and the priest has made atonement for him, for his ignorance in which he has erred and he has not known, and it has been forgiven him;

Young's Literal Translation
'Then he hath brought in a ram, a perfect one, out of the flock, at thy valuation, for a guilt-offering, unto the priest; and the priest hath made atonement for him, for his ignorance in which he hath erred and he hath not known, and it hath been forgiven him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he brought a blameless ram from the sheep, by thy estimation, for the trespass to the priest; and the priest expiated for him for his error which he erred and he knew not; and it was forgiven to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall offer of the hocks a ram without blemish to the priest, according to the measure and estimation of the sin: and the priest shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: and it shall be forgiven him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
he shall offer from the flocks an immaculate ram to the priest, according to the measure and estimation of the sin, who shall pray for him, because he did it unknowingly, and he shall be released from it,

New American Bible
The individual shall bring to the priest an unblemished ram of the flock, at the established value, for a reparation offering. The priest shall then make atonement on the offerer’s behalf for the error inadvertently and unknowingly committed so that the individual may be forgiven.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, or the equivalent, as a guilt offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for the error that you committed unintentionally, and you shall be forgiven.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he shall bring to the priest a ram of value without blemish out of the flocks for a trespass offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his ignorance in erring, even though he knew it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall bring a male without blemish from a flock with a price offering to the Priest, and the Priest shall atone for him for the error that he erred and he does not know, and it shall be forgiven to him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy valuation, for a guilt-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the error which he committed, though he knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
he shall even bring a ram without blemish from the flock, valued at a price of silver for his transgression to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for his trespass of ignorance, wherein he ignorantly trespassed, and he knew it not; and it shall be forgiven him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws for Guilt Offerings
17If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. 18He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven. 19It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.”…

Cross References
Numbers 5:6-8
“Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty / and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged. / But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.

Exodus 22:10-12
If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching, / an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution. / But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.

Leviticus 6:6-7
Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. / In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.”

Leviticus 4:27-31
And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt. / When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin. / He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. ...

Leviticus 7:1-10
“Now this is the law of the guilt offering, which is most holy: / The guilt offering must be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar. / And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, ...

Numbers 15:27-29
Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. / And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. / You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

Hebrews 9:7
But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 10:1-4
For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. / If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins. / Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, ...

1 John 1:7-9
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. / If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Romans 5:10-11
For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! / Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Luke 19:8-9
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.” / Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.


Treasury of Scripture

And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and knew it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

And he

Leviticus 5:15,16
If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: …

for a trespass

Leviticus 6:6
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:

1 Timothy 2:5,6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; …

and the priest

Leviticus 5:16
And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 1:4
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 4:20
And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

Jump to Previous
Atonement Blemish Committed Erred Error Estimation Fixed Flock Forgiven Guilt-Offering Ignorance Male Mark Offering Price Priest Proper Ram Sheep Sinned Trespass Trespass-Offering Unwittingly Valuation Value Valued Way Wherein Wist Wrong
Jump to Next
Atonement Blemish Committed Erred Error Estimation Fixed Flock Forgiven Guilt-Offering Ignorance Male Mark Offering Price Priest Proper Ram Sheep Sinned Trespass Trespass-Offering Unwittingly Valuation Value Valued Way Wherein Wist Wrong
Leviticus 5
1. He who sins in concealing his knowledge
2. in touching an unclean thing
4. or in making an oath
6. His trespass offering, of the flock
7. of fowls
11. or of flour
14. The trespass offering in sacrilege
17. and in sins of ignorance














He is to bring to the priest
This phrase emphasizes the personal responsibility of the individual who has sinned. In the Hebrew context, the word for "bring" (הֵבִיא, hevi) implies an active, intentional action. The sinner must approach the priest, symbolizing the need for mediation between humanity and God. The priest, a representative of God, acts as an intermediary, highlighting the importance of spiritual leadership and guidance in the community.

a ram without blemish from the flock
The requirement of a "ram without blemish" underscores the necessity of offering something of value and purity to God. The Hebrew term for "without blemish" (תָּמִים, tamim) signifies completeness and perfection, reflecting God's holiness. This requirement points to the future perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was without sin. The "flock" indicates the communal aspect of worship and sacrifice, as the offering comes from the resources of the community.

according to your valuation
This phrase involves the assessment of the ram's worth, which is determined by the priest. The Hebrew word for "valuation" (עֶרְכְּךָ, erkecha) suggests a standard of measure or worth. This reflects the principle that the cost of atonement is significant and must be recognized by the one offering the sacrifice. It also implies that God values sincerity and the heart's intent over mere ritual.

as a guilt offering
The "guilt offering" (אָשָׁם, asham) is a specific type of sacrifice in the Levitical system, designed to atone for unintentional sins or sins of omission. This offering acknowledges the reality of human imperfection and the need for divine forgiveness. It points to the seriousness of sin and the necessity of restitution, foreshadowing the ultimate atonement through Christ's sacrifice.

The priest will make atonement for him
The act of making "atonement" (כִּפֶּר, kipper) involves covering or purging sin, restoring the sinner to a right relationship with God. The priest's role is crucial, as he performs the ritual that symbolizes God's forgiveness. This highlights the grace and mercy of God, who provides a means for reconciliation despite human failings.

regarding the sin he has committed in ignorance
This phrase addresses sins committed unknowingly, emphasizing that ignorance does not exempt one from guilt. The Hebrew word for "ignorance" (שְׁגָגָה, shegagah) indicates an error or mistake, underscoring the pervasive nature of sin. It serves as a reminder of the need for continual self-examination and repentance, as well as the comprehensive nature of God's law.

and he will be forgiven
The promise of forgiveness (סָלַח, salach) is a central theme in the sacrificial system. It assures the sinner of God's willingness to pardon and restore. This forgiveness is not earned but granted through the prescribed means, pointing to the grace available through faith. It foreshadows the complete forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and offers eternal redemption.

(18) And he shall bring a ram.--Under such circumstances of suspense and feelings of guilt, he is to bring the same victim as in the former instance.

With thy estimation.--That is, according to thy i.e., Moses' valuation, the ram is to be worth two shekels. (See Leviticus 5:15.)

And wist it not.--Better, though he wist or knew not, the precise sacred thing which he used, as the same phrase is rendered in the preceding verse. That is, to be on the right side, the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning this error of inadvertence, though the offender is uncertain whether he actually committed the offence or not. Still, as the case is a doubtful one, he is exempt from the additional fifth part which the transgressor had to pay who indisputably committed this offence in ignorance. (See Leviticus 5:16.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He must bring
וְ֠הֵבִיא (wə·hê·ḇî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

an unblemished
תָּמִ֧ים (tā·mîm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

ram
אַ֣יִל (’a·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 352: Strength, strong, a chief, a ram, a pilaster, an oak, strong tree

of proper value
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ (bə·‘er·kə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6187: A pile, equipment, estimate

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the flock
הַצֹּ֛אן (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

as a guilt offering.
לְאָשָׁ֖ם (lə·’ā·šām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 817: Guilt, a fault, a sin-offering

Then the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֜ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

will make atonement
וְכִפֶּר֩ (wə·ḵip·per)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

on his behalf
עָלָ֨יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

for
עַ֣ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the wrong
שִׁגְגָת֧וֹ (šiḡ·ḡā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7684: A mistake, inadvertent transgression

he has committed
שָׁגָ֛ג (šā·ḡāḡ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7683: To go astray, commit sin or error

unintentionally,
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and he will be forgiven.
וְנִסְלַ֥ח (wə·nis·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5545: To forgive, pardon


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OT Law: Leviticus 5:18 He shall bring a ram without blemish (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 5:17
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